Transgender Idris Okuneye a.k.a Bobrisky is currently detained at the Force Criminal Investigation Department at Alagbon Close, Lagos for investigations after he was arrested by Nigerian Immigration Service agents at the Seme Border around 1:30 a.m. Monday.
“Yes, he was brought here last night (Monday) by the NIS, where he spent the night. We are going to get a remand today,” Vanguard quoted sources at the FCID.
The NIS said Bobrisky was stopped from leaving the country because he was a person of interest.
“In keeping with its commitment to securing the borders, the NIS intercepted Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky, at the Seme border over an attempt to exit the country,” said NIS spokesperson Kenneth Udo.
“The service wishes to inform the public that Okuneye is a person of interest over recent issues of public concern.
“He is undergoing interrogation and will be handed over to the appropriate authorities for further action.
“The service assures the public that it will continue to be civil and professional in its statutory responsibility of manning the country’s borders.”
Bobrisky is expected to appear before the House of Reps committee investigating allegations of bribery he levelled against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Nigerian Correctional Services in course of his facing prosecution and jail time for Naira abuse charges. The allegations were contained in an audio recording, made available online by social media influencer Martins Otse a.k.a VeryDarkMan.
Bobrisky was absent in the first hearing in Abuja, claiming that he was indisposed.
Commenting on the arrest human rights lawyer Festus Ogun stated: “I am afraid there is no legal justification for this recent arrest and refusal to allow him to exit Nigeria.
“The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) must desist from undermining citizens’ fundamental rights on grounds that are not rooted in law.
” If the NIS is allowed to get away with this, the Nigerian state may not hesitate to restrict the freedom of its citizens—particularly journalists, activists, and vocal patriots—on the basis that they are ‘persons of interest.’
“We must avert this perilous precedent. Lest we all become at risk. May the shovel we call a spoon today not be used to dig our graves.”
